Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1721-1743, 1794-1970
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STRINKLE, v., n. Also -el, †strenkell.
I. v. tr. To scatter, strew, sprinkle (something) in, over, (up)on (Mry. 1813 W. Leslie Agric. Mry. 467; Rxb. 1942 Zai; Sh., n.Sc., Rxb. 1971); to besprinkle (something) wi(th). Obs. exc. dial. in Eng. Vbl.n. strinklin, -en, a sprinkling, a small quantity of some liquid or granulated substance, e.g. of snow (Abd. 1971) or the like (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.).Sc. 1721 R. Wodrow Sufferings ii. xii. s.2:
Nothing but Snow-water, strinkled upon some Oat Meal, to drink.Sc. 1733 P. Lindsay Interest Scot. 153:
At sowing it [the ground] is all strinkled over with human Ordure.Sc. 1743 R. Maxwell Select Trans. 83, 250:
You harrow the Field, adding a strinkling of Clover. . . . Cause your Gardener strinkle Turnip-seed upon it.e.Lth. 1794 G. Buchan-Hepburn Agric. E. Lth. 81:
The plant is laid upon the surface, with a very little dung strinkled upon it.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 199:
Strenkellin', a' round, the fechtar's faces, Wi' its out-waffin' water.Edb. 1863 J. Smith Hum. Sc. Stories 52:
Strinklin' a pickle broun sugar in't.Sh. 1893 Sinclair MS. 2:
A peerie sakramint o gjola wi a strinklin o' mell.Ags. 1911 Rymour Club Misc. I. 176:
Forfar Rhyme on Porridge-making: Steer thick and strinkle thin.Abd. 1920 A. Robb MS. iii.:
We pat a strinklin' o' strae roon their heids tae keep them clean.Lth. 1925 C. P. Slater Marget Pow 30:
He had strinkled my room with holy water.Sh. 1970 New Shetlander No. 94. 27:
Flooers o orange an yallow Strinkled aboot in atween.
II. n. A sprinkling, a scattering or strewing; a small quantity, esp. of a liquid or granulated substance, "of salt, tea, whisky, etc." (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Abd., Slg., Wgt. 1971).Abd. 1950 Buchan Observer (12 Sept.):
Gin ye tak' a gweed look at a sheff there as it fa's fae the binder, ye'll notice that the eemist side is some slack an' halla kind, wi' a strinkle o' lowse strae.
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"Strinkle v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/strinkle>
